Everton Told To Pay £14m for Fellaini Replacement as United Plot Improved Offer

Everton have been told to pay £14m for Fellaini replacement James McCarthy. (Reuters)

Everton are close to signing Gareth Barry on loan from Manchester City and will launch another bid to sign James McCarthy should Manchester United return with another offer of their own for Marouane Fellaini.

Republic of Ireland midfielder McCarthy has already been the subject of a £10m bid from the Toffees that was subsequently rejected by Wigan chairman Dave Whelan, but will be allowed the leave the club should Roberto Martinez return with an improved offer.

Reports also suggest the club are edging closer to striking a deal for City's Gareth Barry having opened talks with the 32-year-old on Sunday afternoon. The former Aston Villa captain's wages are thought to be the cause of the delay, with Everton keen to see City subsidise his £100,000 a week salary.

While Barry's move to Goodison Park would appear to be closer to coming to fruition, McCarthy's move to Merseyside would appear to still hinge on Fellaini's proposed move to Manchester United.

The Irish Independent report that a bid of £14m from Everton will be enough to bring McCarthy to Merseyside, and Whelan believes it will only be a matter of time before Martinez returns with an improved offer financed by the sale of Fellaini.

"If Fellaini goes, Everton are going to get their £30m or whatever. Roberto knows what James is valued at so they've got to come back in with the right amount. You've got to be talking £14m or maybe a little more."

Whelan added that he could not deny McCarthy the opportunity to return to the Premier League if Everton meet the club's valuation of the midfielder.

"I would never stop a footballer going up to a bigger club, or to the Premier League. I know what it is like if you stop a footballer going to the club he wants to go to; you never get the same response or loyalty out of him ever again"

In another feature of a possible domino effect transfer, Wigan are reportedly on the brink of replacing the outgoing McCarthy with Manchester United youngster Nick Powell on a season long loan deal.